Join Merelise and her guest, Alexi, this week as they discuss Alexi’s three vaginal births in the hospital. This episode has it all - one birth with an epidural and two without, two known genders and one surprise, two babies with gestational diabetes and one without…the list goes on and on for Alexi’s three very different births! They also discuss the choice to decline medical advice when you feel it won’t benefit you or your baby, pushing when you’re ready vs when someone tells you to, how anxiety is the enemy of labor, when sometimes you just need your own mom when you’re having a baby, funny moments brought to you by Costco faux-Uggs, Heaven-sent midwives and nurses, a baby Swiftie, and so much more. This episode has laughter, tears and everything in between - just like birth!

Content warning: this episode briefly discusses miscarriage. 

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Join Merelise and her guest, Courtney, as they discuss Courtney's first birth, which started with a Foley bulb + Cytotec induction. Her birth story has quite a few twists and turns, chiefly driven by her low platelet count and late preeclampsia diagnosis, and culminating in her hemorrhaging post-birth. Even after not a few complications, Courtney considers her birth experience a positive one - talk about glass half full! Courtney also brings a unique perspective as a medical malpractice attorney who has seen it all, and they discuss how that colored her approach to and attitude about birth.

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Join Merelise and her guest, Heather, who shares the birth stories of her three boys, all born vaginally in uncomplicated, peaceful, hospital births. If these two sound like old friends, it's because they are! They talk about their shared love of birth stories and keeping their babies' genders a surprise until birth, giving birth in the COVID era, big baby fears, prodromal labor, the perfect hint of an epidural, and so much more.

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Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. 

Join Merelise and her guest, Karen, who shares the birth stories of her three girls, one singleton and one set of twins. They discuss Karen’s first birth, a vaginal delivery and what she described as an ideal birth, and then her second birth, which was a planned C-section with her twins, and the difficult recovery that followed. They also chat about what it’s like having a spouse in the medical field, Karen’s theory on how she got pregnant with twins, the beauty of the multiple-mom community, and so much more. 

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Trigger warning: This episode contains mention of a stillbirth. 

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. 

Join Merelise in the debut episode of Arrivals! She discusses her path to choosing an unmedicated hospital birth, going past her due date, induction fears, laboring without pain medication and ultimately welcoming her first son in the world. Special guest, Chris Wilson, joins the first episode to give his perspective as the partner of the birthing person.

Want to be a guest on Arrivals? Contact Merelise here!

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Resource Links:

1. The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill
2. Kopa Birth Classes